Hobbyhorse



B. F. clsoR HOBBYHORSE July 30, 1940.

2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed June 8, 1938 wmf i m M M i July 30, 1940. a F,clsoR 2,209,320

HOBBYHORSE Filed June 8, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 www l40 and the legs.

Patented July 30, 19740 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 7 claims.

My invention relates to a hobbyhorse of the type in which the user canmanipulate the construction to travel over the ground both in a forwardand a backing direction, can have the de- Vice turn and can developgaits of movement simulating those of a horse in some respects. Theparticular gaits of a horse simulated are those of a gallop or fastcanter or by a slight rearrangement of the parts, a pacing movement.

An object and feature of my invention is to develop a hobbyhorse whichwill not only give the user considerable exercise and amusement but willclosely simulate the actions of a horse and to add interest, thehobbyhorse may be made to travel over the ground as manipulated by therider giving different gaits and speeds such as simulating the gallopingmovement or a pacing gait and other movements and gaits of a horse mayalso be simulated. Due to the ability of the hobbyhorse to travel,racing or other contests between competitors add interest to its use.

A further object and feature of my invention is in the provision of thehobbyhorse with four distinct leg structures, that is, two fore and twohind legs, each independently operated except for an interconnectionbetween the fore and the hind legs on each side. Each leg is providedwith a rocker of quite considerable length, hence due to the rocking.action which may develop by tilting or inclining the body of thehobbyhorse together with the shift of the weight of the rider, thehobbyhorse may be made to travel with the various gaits simulating thoseof a horse. A further characteristic of my invention is the use ofstirrup-like devices which may be connected to the fore leg constructionof the hobbyhorse, the rider by shifting his weight on the saddle and inreference to the stirrups, may develop a swinging movement of the bodyof the horse A further object is to provide a hand grip devicesimulating the reins, this however being stiif and rigid bars so thatthe rider may exert a pull on these reins when shifting his weighttowards the rump of the horse in order to raise the head and neck or hemay thrust with his arms or hands on the reins when shifting his weightforwardly to tilt the head and neck of the horse downwardly. This actiontogether with the shifting and transference of weight to the stirrupsmay be used to develop the dierent gaits, the individual legs having arocking movement on therockers contacting the ground.

Another characteristic of my invention resides in a link connectionbetween the fore and hind -*1egs on each side. For instance these legsare pivoted to the body of the horse and the fore legs may have the linkconnected below the pivot and the hind legs having the same linkconnected above the pivot, therefore in the rocking movement thisdevelops an opposite directional movement of the legs, that is, as therocker of the fore legs is shifted forwardly, the rocker of the rearlegs is relatively shifted rearwardly and vice versa and thus bypositioning the legs out of longitudinal alignment, the rockers may becaused to overlap, the rocker of the hind legs reaching forwardly of therocker on the fore legs, this movement being accompanied by a tilting ofthe body of the horse and thus simulating In this shift of weight therockers of the fore and hind legs may be alternately raised above theground so that at any particular instant of travel of the hobbyhorse theweight is on the rockers of either the fore or the A furthercharacteristic of my invention is providing for shifting the linkconnection between the fore and hind legs and fo-r instance having theconnection below the pivot as to both the fore and the hind legs, thuscausing the legs on each side to swing in the same direction, thus forinstance as the fore and hind legs on one side swing forwardly, relativeto a rearward swing of the legs on the opposite side and this beingaccompanied by a sidewise rocking movement of the body of the rider, apacing gait may be developed. In view of the fact that the legs on eachside are independently actuated, if the rider controls the length of thestroke or what might be termed a step, the hobbyhorse may be caused tomake a turn, the sharpness of the a galloping gait.

hind legs.

angle depending on the actions of the rider.

Various detail features of my invention relate to the resilient orspring mounting of the saddle, a` resilient mounting for the pivots ofthe legs and a friction reducing journal assembly for the leg pivots andother vdetail features described in the specification and claims.

My invention is illustrated in connection with the accompanyingdrawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation partly broken away of the hobbyhorseillustrating it in the normal standing position and showing the legs onone side only.

Fig, 2 is a vertical section on the line 2 2 of Fig. 1 in the directionof the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a vertical section on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1 in the directionof the arrows to illustrate the journals for the legs.

Fig. 4 isa section on the line 4 4 of Fig.

1 illustrating the adjustable seat.

Figs. 5, 6 and? are side elevations in diagram illustrating a sequencein the movements when -the progression of the horse is somewhat in thetermed the horse body II, this being illustrated,-

as constructed of a thick plank Aand. may be vde ned as having the backI2', neck I 3-, head I4, rump I5 and the sides of thel body 16,. Thefore or front shoulder is designated I1. This plank or board has a stiffside covering forming a flank I8, the purpose vof this being to giveacontour simila'r to horseand to cover some of the operating parts suchas the pivots or hinges of the legs, etc. Itis 'manifest that the bodyof the horse may be painted andcarvedto simulate a horse as muchaspossible and be provided with aV mane, tail,

' 4l. This is indicated as havingy aboard 2| with a ears, eyes, etc. y t

Infmy invention while of course the rider may sit onxthe top of theboard, nevertheless it is desirable to provide a'saddle yassembly 20(note Fig.

pad 22V. A plurality of coil springs 23 extend downwardly fromrthe boardand arer provided with a stem 24 which ts into ay metal socket 25.located in the board. The heighth of the saddle as to each spring may.be adjusted through the medium ofthe set screw 26. By this constructionthe saddle may be adjusted as to heighth andrnay be tilted to suttherider. The saddle isv l, preferably in valignment asto its top surfacefrom "end to end to allow the rider to shift his weight f readilyforwardtowards the shoulders or rearwardly towards the rurnpl of thehobbyhorse. Of

course itis manifest thatl if desiredfthe saddle may simulateconventional shapes.

The reins 30 are formed of two curved metal handlebars 3|, these beingsimilar and each preferably fastened vat its upward end 32 to the headof'the horse and at the rear end 32 slightly lx,rearwardly of theshoulder. These reins are spaced on Opposite sides of thev hobbyhorseand divrgeoutwardly asshown in Fig. V.2. They thus provide a raised bowsection 33 for theready grasping in the hands `of the rider. In orderlto carry ,out the design a bridle is indicated at 34 on the Vhead of thehorseand the reins merge into the devicesforming the bridle. Suchrbridlemay` be painted on the head of the horse or made of leather or othermaterial in imitation of la bridle. The essential characteristics of thereins 30 in the handle bar type is that these are quite rigid in orderthat the rider may exert a considerable pull on the head portion andalso a ythrust depending on` the .movement he desires and the shifting.of his body weight as hereunder described.

The hobbyhorse provided with'the leg assembly 40 in which there are thefore legs 4I and the hind legs 42.

The particular -type of Ypivoted m'ountings forrthe leg is notessential. The pivot "mountingisindicated at 43 and isv substantiallysimilar .for both Vfore and hind legs.l Iy nd that a"satisfactory pivotmounting includes a sleeve Mextendingrthrough theboard vformingY thebody of the horse, this .havin'gjflangesdfw at each/Mend Y.

connected by tie bolts 46. The sleeve has a rub-- ber or other resilientcore 41 through which eX- tends the pivot pin 48. This is in the form ofa bolt. Each leg construction has what might be termed a hub section 5Bwith a bushing or antifriction bearing 5I. There are two antifrictionball carriers 52 and 53 and associated with the outer carrier 43 `thereis an outer ball race 54. A washer 55 and a nut 56 on the pivot bolt 43holdv the assembly in position. The balls-in the anti-friction ballcarriers thus have an operating contact with the anges 45 on the ends ofthe sleeve, the hub section of the legs and the outer race 54. It isadvisable to have the face area of the antifriction bearings of quitelarge size in order to prevent rubbing friction of the legs on the bodypart of a horse and to provide stiffness j in a lateral directionV as insome of the gaits of the hobbyhorse hereunder described a sidewiserocking is necessary.

The leg construction may bev substantially similar for both the fore andhind legs. For instance as to the fore legs 4I, from the central orY hubportion there is afront bow 60 and a rear bowV 6I, These diverge from aposition 62 below the hub. These bows, have quite a decided outwardcurve adjacent their bottom portions indicated at 63 and 64 where theyconnect to the rockers 65.r Onthe rear bow 6I I provide stirrups 66.These.

may beadjustable by providing a clamp 61 so that the stirrups may beraised and lowered by beingV shifted on the rear` bows. It is howeverdesirable y that the stirrups be substantially below the center of thesaddle when the hobbyhorse is in its normal or rest position as shown inFig. l. While.

these stirrups are illustrated for simplicity as bars, they may be, madeintheform of bicycle pedals or simulate the characteristics of stirrupsVusedin horseback riding. Inthe illustrations and for simplicity I havemade no. attempt to dis,- guise the leg constructions or present a,characteristic of the leg of a horse, It will be apparent however thatlegs somewhat similar to a horses leg in `shape lcould be used with therockerscon,

nected to the foot portions. It will be noted that as to the fore legsthat there is an upward projection 68 yabove the hub section.

The Ahind legs` 42 are constructed in the saine` manner as thefore-legSaS to the bows and the rockers. For sake of denition the hindlegs are indicated ashaving front bows 10 and rear bows 1I .connectingto the rockers 12. The portion adjacentthe hub has an-upward extension13, rthese portions `beingilat and there is a perforation v14 at theupper part of this upward extension. A

similar perforation 15 belowv the hub, the frontl legs are also providedwith a perforation 16. A linkl 11 forms a connection to the perforations14 and 16 as illustrated, this being by providing journal bolts 18 inthe perforations with antifrictionl bearings 19 connected adjacent hubsections of the links. The linkl 10 also has a plurality of perforations8| and may be shifted-from the full line position of Fig. 1 to thedotted line position- Y It is to be noted byreference tothe crosssection of Fig. 2lthat the hind legs are set` inwardly from-the forelegs, thisarrangement being accomplished by providinga greater outwardcurve l indicatedat in the bowsrof the fore legs than; the outward-curveA86 :of the bows of thehind legs.l

Thus it will be seen that when Athe hobbyhorse is normally` atrest-inthe position o f Fig. 1 that the lmlltlv OVerlafD, ,that is.Ythe. reali RJrtion 0f the. for@ .rglers .extends ...onsiderablrrearwardly; 10.@-

removed from the fore legs and their rockers,

'the same heighth above the ground.

yond the front end of the hind rockers. The rockers also it will benoted are quite long. By the connection of the link 11 it will beapparent that the fore and hind legs are caused by the linkv to move inopposite directions, that is, when the fore legs reach forwardly thehind legs are extended rearwardly due to the pull or thrust on the link11.

In the operation of the hobbyhorse, presuming a rider starts from theposition shown in Fig. 1, the rider is sitting on the saddle and havinghis feet on the stirrups. The rider first exerts a pull on the reinsindicated by A and the arrow of Fig. 5 and at the same time the weightof the body is thrown rearwardly indicated by the arrow B. A downwardthrust is exerted on the stirrups by the feet and legs in the directionof the arrow C. This action transfers the weight of the rider to therockers of the hind legs and as the weight is these fore legs may bethrust forward a considerable distance. In this action the body of thehorse tilts considerably, the head and fore shoulders rising and therump remaining at substantially Following this movement the hobbyhorserocks forwardly on the hind rockers and in the movement the fore rockersare thrust forwardly and by the interconnection with the links 11 thehind I rockers and hind legs extend rearwardly somewhat as shown in Fig.6 with the body of the hobbyhorse inclined in an opposite direction, thefore shoulders being as substantially the normal heighth above theground, the head lowered and the rump raised. The rider then exerts athrust on the reins indicated by the arrow D and shifts the weight ofthe body forwardly as indicated at the arrow E. In this action the ridermay retain a certain amount of weight or normal weight on the stirrups.The momentum and impetus given to the horse further carries on therocking motion, the whole weight of the horse and the rider beingcarried by the fore rockers in a movement through the positionillustrated in Fig. 6 and carrying through to a position indicated inFig. '7. This rocking action together with the action of the link causesthe hind rockers to reach forwardly in reference to the fore rockers.This action causes the riders feet to be pulled back as indicated by theposition of the stirrups F. The weight of the rider is substantiallydownwardly as indicated at G as to the saddle and there need be noparticular pull or thrust on the reins indicated by the reverse arrowsI-I. However, as the hind legs reach forwardly, the weight of the rideris swung rearwardly with a pull on the reins somewhat as illustrated atA and B in Fig. 5, thus transferring the weight to the rockers of thehind legs. This action removes the weight from the fore rockers allowingthese to swing forwardly and the rider may exert a forward pressure onthe stirrup indicated by the arrow I of Fig. '7, thus aiding in theforward swing of the fore legs and their rockers.V The movement may becontinued, the rate of progress and the amount of tilting of the body ofthe hobby horse of course being dependent on the skill, the strength andthe violence of the action of the rider but it will be seen that quite along stride can be made and quite a moderate speed developed in movingover reasonably smooth ground.

The above action and gait has been predicated on the rider operatingboth his legs and feet s` ultaneously to have both of the fore legs andtheir rockers move in unison, however if he causes the legs on one sideto have a greater swing than those on the opposite side, the hobbyhorsemay be made to turn in a circle or partial circle, the sharpness of theturns being dependent on the difference in the leg movements on oppositesides of the hobbyhorse. A rider may develop such skill that he can bequite quick in his turns. It

is obvious that by a reverse movement to that described as a forwardgallop or canter that the hobbyhorse may move rearwardly.

With the same set up of the links 11 and by the rider developing acertain amount of skill, the hobbyhorse may develop a gait somewhatsimilar to trotting. This. necessitates a side rocking of the body,shifting the weight alternately fromthe rockers the right side and asthe fore rockers on one side extend rearwardly, the hind rockers on thesame side extend forwardly.

Where it is desired to operate the hobbyhorse with a pacing gait thelink 11 is shifted from the full line position of Fig. l to the dottedline position. This causes the link through the medium of the adjustingperforations, to engage both the fore and hind legs below the pivot bolt48. Of course it is manifest that the link may be connected above thispivot bolt. Thus both the fore and the hind legs on the same side movesimultaneously forwardly or rearwardly. In this case it is necessary forthe rider to rock his body and weight from side to side and at the sametime operate each leg and foot with a separate manipulation of thestirrups and the fore legs in order to simulate the pacing movement,which movement requires both of the legs on the left side to moveforwardly followed by both legs on the right side moving forwardly. Inthis action a balance must be developed on the rockers on rst one sideof the horse and then on the other. To produce such tain amount of skilland increases the pleasure in operating the hobbyhorse.

It is obvious that in order to make the action still more intricate thefore legs on one side for instance the left, may be connected to thehind legs on the opposite or rear side and vice versa in which case twolinks such as 11 would overlap, underneath the bottom of the body boardIl. With this connection a peculiar shuffling motion of the hobbyhorsemay be obtained, the rider of coursehaving to manipulate the stirrupsand the fore legs by a separate action of each of his legs and feet.There are many types of actions which maybe developed by the use of thishobbyhorse, these depending on the skill, strength and agility of therider. It is believed that it will be obvious that occasionally therider will be thrown from the horse which adds zest to the sport.

It is obvious that the rockers 65 and 12 are made on the radius fromtheir respective pivots. It is believed quite apparent that the size of'the arc of a circle of each rocker may be varied within considerablelimits. For instance, the rockers can be made very long up to about 1/3of a circle. Again they can be made quite short. The length of therockers depends considerably on the distance apart of the pivots for thefore and the hind legs, that is, the effective length of the body of thehorse. When to the limit the horse is a substantially stifflegged horsewith short rocker feet. In this case the operation is quite difficultbut increases the factor from the interest in sport and the more` orless danger of being thrown. It will be realized on the left to those ona gait manifestly requires a certhe rockers are shortenedv horse. Itisiobvious that when therockers `are that with' this hobbyh'orse that:it can be made torear so much that sometimes it will topple the ridervoff backwards or again in a forward kpitchhewill be thrown over thehead of the 1. A hobbyhorse having a rigid body structure f withportions simulating the fore shoulders, the

Y back and rump, an assembly of legs including a ffrom the other, meansinterconnecting the upper Y rigid body structuresimulating a horsehaving fore leg assembly with a rocker pivoted to the ffore shoulderportion and a hind .leg assembly with a rocker pivoted to therumpportion, the said rockersbeing positioned to loverlap in intersectingcurves andthe rockers of the two leg assembliesbeing entirely separateand disconnected one portion of the fore and hind leg assemblies todevelop simultaneous pivoting movement,` the back being constructed andadapted for the rider to sit thereon; a stirrup construction for` theiriders feet with a connection to the fore leg assembly lwl'reby therider may shift his weight forwardly or rearwardly relative to the foreshoulders or rump and apply or remove weight to thel fore lleg assemblywhereby the horse may rock on and thus progress over the ground.

2. A hobbyhorse as'claimed in claim 1, the stirrup having Va rigidconnection to the fore leg assembly.V Y

3. A hobbyhorse comprising in combination a a head', fore shoulders,back and rump, a pair of fore and a pair of hind legs, each pair beingfmounted on Va common pivot transverse to the ai body but the legs ofeach pair being independently pivoted, each leg having a rocker toengage `the ground, the rockers of the fore and hind legs being entirelyseparate and disconnected one from the other and adapted in the movement,of the horse to overlap in intersecting: curves,

the back of` the horse being constructed andv adapted to support theweight of a rider, stirrups rigidly connected to each fore leg wherebythe rider may shift his weight forwardly or rearl wardly towards theshoulders or the rump` and place or remove weight on or fromthestirrups, a linkage connection betweenthe fore and hind legs on theIleft and right'side of the body whereby a movement of the fore legs onone side communi- L, cates a movement to the hind leg on the same sideand vice versa.

4. A'hobbyhorse as claimed'inclaim 3, the rockers of the fore and thehind legs being spaced a y'different'distance apart from ra verticallongitudinal planethrough the center ofthe bodyto thereby provide aspaced lateral support forv the ithe rockers ofthe fore leg or the hindleg assembly horse on either they rockers of thefore or'thei hind legs,the rockers on the pair ofthe fore legs j I being Y positioned outwardlyfrom the vertical.

hind pair of legs;

vlongitudinal plane relativeto the rockersof the,

5. Ahobbyhorse comprising in combination a'.`

rigid bodystructure'simulating a horse and having a head, neck,shoulders, back and rump; 'a'. n

rigid hand grip rein connected forward of` the back, the back having`means for supportingrthev weight of a rider, left and right fore legseach with a rockerpivotally connected on a common.

pivotal axis, each leg having a rocker, left and right hind legs pivotedadjacent the rump each.l on. a common axis andeach havingja rocker,ga=-and hind legs. onl one side and the right fore` and hindY legs onlA theother side, a stirrup rigidly connectedn oneito" the fore legs on theleft and the other to the fore.A

link interconnecting the left fore legs on the right side whereby therider'by grasping the rigid rein may shift his weightforwardly orrearwardly of the body and place or remove weight on eitherof thestirrups, the said rockers ofthe fore andhind legs being each entirelyseparate and disconnected one from the other, the rockers of the foreand hind legs in their movementV being overlapped .in intersectingcurvesv whereby the horse may progress over the ground. 6. A hobbyhorsehaving a rigid body structure:

with portions simulating the head, fore shoulders, back and rump, a foreleg assembly pivoted adjacent the shoulders, a hind leg assembly`pivoted adjacent the rump, each leg assembly having forwardly andrearwardly curved bows and a rockerconnected to the bows, the bowsmerging into the forward and rearward end of the rockers, the rockers ofthe fore leg. and of the rear leg assemblies being entirely separateandr disconnected one from the other and the arc4 of ,the vrockingmovement of the forey and. rearrockers` overlapping in themovement of the horse, the

back being constructed and adapted for a riderk tosit thereon, a linkconnection between the front andl reary leg assemblies, a stirrupconstruction'. rigidly connected to the fore leg assembly Wherev by therider may shiftihis weight forwardly or rearwardly relative to the foreshoulders 'or rumpv and apply or remove weight to the fore leg assemblywhereby the horse may rock on the rockers of the fore leg or the hindleg assembly and thus progress over the ground.

7. A hobbyhorse as claimed in claim 6, the: rockers of thev hindvlegassembly being spaced: apart relative yto a vertical plane through the,body and the rockers of the fore leg assembly` being spaced apart agreater distance than those of the hind legs whereby the rockers' of thefore'L and hind legs may overlap and intersect inthe. progression of thehorse, the left and right legs of leach assembly being'pivoted forindependent g movement wherebyy the rider may byshifting his Weightsideways tilt the horsevto progress on the' fore and hind legs on theleft side alternately with'Y the .fore and hind legs on the right side.

BENJAMIN F. CISOR;y

